2006 Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

We had one of these 2006 about 5 years ago from Old Particular. At 10 years old for $60 it was a pretty screaming deal. Now, Islay -even this unpeated one- is simply on fire, so we're very careful to make sure what we're putting out are extremely good values. While I wish we could still sell this for $80 like we did the 12 year a couple of years ago, the reality is that those were very undervalued and while we sold 15-18 year Bowmore a couple of years ago for $150 it's now worth $500 a bottle two years later, this relatively modest increase doesn't keep this Bunnah out of our range as it truly delivers a unique and delicious experience you're not getting anywhere else for this price. The color is pale straw. The nose is relatively restrained at first and it definitely needs some air and water to open. Once you've let it breath expect a fabulous mélange of salted butter, crystal malt, pithy citrus peel and sweet tarts. It's not the most powerful nose, but it's elegant and linear and very invited (after water of course). But wait for the palate on this one. Here it's really starting to turn up - rich salted fudge, yellow pluots, bright lemon peel and a vibrant minerality. I just love how something so elegant and subtle on the nose can translate to something so racy and bold on the palate. Of course, the salty side is a favorite of mine as well. This will be a bit of a sleeper and might disappoint those looking for big bold flavors, but if you're a slow sipper that loves to take their time and let a whisky unravel, you'll find this mysterious little Islay is hiding some serious chops behind that proof.